Hard Men to Kill

By: William W. Johnstone, J. A. Johnstone

Narrated by: Joshua Saxon

In this action-packed new series, a pair of prospectors run for their lives from a gun-toting posse—and discover a million ways to die in San Francisco's criminal underworld

Charlie Dawson and his partner Clem don't consider themselves bad guys. But they definitely made a bad error in judgment on a gold mine deal—turns out there was no gold—and ended up in a shootout with some very angry claim jumpers. Now a posse is in hot pursuit of Charlie and Clem. The unlucky pair hightail it to San Francisco, where they try to blend into the red-light district known as Barbary Coast. Another bad decision on their part.

San Francisco is one wild place. Horses get stolen, folks get shanghaied, and Charlie and Clem get offers from some very shady characters. A big boss banker wants to hire them to find a crate that was lost in a train derailment. Inside is a priceless golden spike created for the opening ceremony of a new rail line. Sounds like easy money to Charlie and Clem. Problem is, they're not the only ones looking for it. A vicious gang of outlaws, a cold-blooded gunman—and a scheming femme fatale—are on a direct collision course with the duo.

And they're all heading for one very dead end.

©2025 J. A. Johnstone (P)2025 Tantor Media

I LOVE THESE WESTERNS, BUT…..

They can’t all be terrific. This story was kinda
flat and the reader wasn’t up to Johnstone caliber. It was just okay…..

Poverty plot

The heroes were portrayed as stumbling idiots who only succeeded by luck. The bad guys all get away what a waste.

The deep friendship between Clem and Charlie.

Didn't like Greda or her gang. Nor did't like any of the crocked bankers back in those days.

Too much

This one frustrated me with too many close calls and contrived scenes that strayed too far from anything that could possibly occur. Good story if they slowed down, explained things and made it more believable